LaQuan Williams gathers teammates for local charity event

Ravens receiver LaQuan Williams ran 10 yards, cut hard to the right, caught the ball and scored. Except this time Williams added two points to the board, not six.

For one of the first times in his career, Williams didn't care much about winning (even though his team won, 111-110).

"This is for the kids, it's all for the kids" Williams said of the charity basketball game he hosted at Stevenson University's gymnasium on Saturday . "We just want to come out and give them a good time and a nice show."

The game benefited the LaQuan Williams Foundation, which aims to help youth in the Baltimore area by providing programs to teach children sportsmanship, teamwork, proper nutrition and help them with their academics.

"It gives them hope [and] it lets them know that there are people that can actually make it and get out of the city and actually do something," Williams said .

But the charity game also was a good opportunity for Williams to take time off from the rigors from his first full preseason. Williams missed out on team-organized offseason workouts his rookie season due to the NFL lockout.

"I've been torturing my body and working out as hard as I can every day in this heat," Williams said. "[I'm] making my body feel it, just preparing for training camp."

Williams added that he has been working out four hours each day because training camp does not begin until July 26. Aside from lifting weights, he has been keeping active with basketball and sometimes he even "might hit a pool."

"It's really three workouts a day," he said.

Williams, who played in 12 games and recorded four receptions for 46 yards last season, primarily played on special teams. After making strides in minicamp last month, that all may change. But Williams isn't concerned about his position on the field as much as he is with his impact on the team.

"I just want to be a guy that sticks out to be honest with you," Williams said. "As long as I stick out and make plays, that is the most important part to me."

It's a determination that his teammates have noticed.

"LaQuan is a great dude and a hard worker," said Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, who also played with Williams at Maryland "He's a heck of an athlete. Each and every year he is getting better and better. ... We work out together all of the time so it's fun to watch each other learn and grow because we know how far we have come since college."

Despite his teammate's approval of him, Williams still isn't satisfied.

"I just want to get stronger [and] I want to get faster," Williams said. "Just [want to improve] my physical body and just my body strength."

But Williams pointed out that his primary concern for the upcoming season lies beyond his personal performance. He wants a deeper run in the playoffs, and yes, a Super Bowl ring.

"Last year was last year and we are going to leave it where it is," Williams said. "We are just coming in this season on a mission to prove ourselves and we feel like that's what we have to do as a team. We are always an underrated team. We have done pretty good getting to the playoffs year after year but we are trying to get past that and get to the big game."